The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-08-19
IMPORTANCE OF FASHION.

Alaska would be OF little or no conse-
ouence to-day if it were not for
women. who have made the furs gath
cred in that territory fashionable.
Alaska sealskins and other furs gath
cred in that region are worn, not
because they are handsome or always
comfortable, but rather because q ca
price of fashion demands this conde-
scension. What will happen when
ever fashionable women refuse to
wear furs? Is the result impossible?
Very few men in temperate climates
wear furs of any sort. The muff for
the most part went out OF fashion
some years ago. Its use has been
partially renewed because it is a very
comfortable thing for the hands. The
buffalo robe, the muff, the sealskin
and the Arctic shoes are all well
enough for cold weather. The Rus
SLAMS wear furs. The symbol OF their
national life is the bear. The grizzly
bear of this coast is not fur-bearing
animal. His hair is nearly as coarse
as bristles. That is because there is
no cold weather. Going north the
polar bear has coat of fur as white
as the snow or the floating islands OF
ice from which he fishes for seals, or
for any other marine animal that will
afford him a comfortable breakfast.
Some years ago women created the
fashion of wearing fur sealskin cloaks.
A garment OF this kind costing, say
$3.50, was the dream of many q
woman's life, and many man whose
entire income for month was not an
equal amount was persuaded to come
down with the funds. Now, what
would result if the fur-bearing woman
should decide that she would no
longer wrap herself in the heavy,
clumsy and altogether cumbrous seal
skin? Clearly the value of Alaska
would drop down to nominal figure.
There would be little use in sending
revenue cutters up to that territory to
chase down the clandestine fur seal
hunters. It would make little differ
ence whether the whole of Behring
sea were included in the transfer
which Russia made in conveying Alas
ka, or whether only half of that water
was conveyed. Probably no foreign
sealers would have been arrested in
Behring sea were it not for the prom
inence of woman as fur-bearing ami
NAL She has given all the impor-
tance to Alaska which that territory
at present possesses. When Mr..
Seward closed with the Russian prop
osition to convey Alaska to the United
States, and said with great emphasis,
SIT is a aOhack," he had a long fore
sight. He knew that in all probability
fashionable women would take loving
ly to the fur-bearing seals. The Rus
sian fur companies had made great
deal of money, but that was in part
because in Russia and in all countries
Of very high latitude man is the prin-
cipsl fur-bearing animal. He makes
most of the journeys and has the
greatest exposure to cold. But the
fashion is reversed in all temperate
and warm climates. Women hold
tenaciously to furs. II the sealskin
cannot be obtained, there is the squir-
rel, the gray fox, the lynx, the badger
and the cat. Yes, the tom-cat; for
thousands of these, perhaps millions,
have their hides taken off every year,
and when colored are sold under the
name ienet skins, which are largely
used in the trimming of outside gar
ments.
Now, who can give any assurance
that the caprice Of fashion will not
change some day? Who can say that
the wearing of fars will not some day
be rated as vulgar, especially in tenn
perate climatesl-and that soft wool
textures wiz cot supplant these Arctic
furs? A tow years ago it became the
caprice Of tashion to wear the skins OF
all birds of beautiful plumage. Mill
ions OF songbirds were sacrificed. Ru-
raj districts were devastated to sup
ply the market. No ordinary protests
syailed anything. One day there was
an arrest of this cruel and senseless
fashion. Victoria Of England gave
judgment against the practice. II
turned out that fashion that could
not have the stamp of royal approval
was no fashion at all 1t was dropped
at once. The aristocratic seal of con-
demnation had changed q fashion al
most in the twinkling Of an eye. Mill.
ions Of birds had fallen a prey to this
caprice, but millions more were saved.
Women all at once ceased to be feath-
er-bearing animals, as to all singing
birds.
One can eea from fhio ouddon oboooo